Friday, October 18, 2013

BOSTON - A Senate Republican Caucus initiative seeking to strengthen
the state’s laws against animal abuse and cruelty has drawn strong bipartisan
and bicameral support from Massachusetts legislators.

Since its filing on October 7th, An Act Protecting Animal Welfare and
Safety, also known as the PAWS Act, has been co-sponsored by 75 legislators,
including 21 state Senators and 54 members of the House of
Representatives.A total of 22
Republicans and 53 Democrats have signed on to the comprehensive bill, which
would create a statewide animal abuse registry while increasing the fines and
penalties associated with the state’s animal abuse laws.

The PAWS Act was filed in response to the tragic case of “Puppy Doe”,
who was euthanized on August 31st after being discovered in a Quincy park
starving and suffering from extensive injuries, including a stab wound to her
eye; a split tongue; a dislocated shoulder, elbow, wrist, and ankle; and burns
to her body.

“I am extremely pleased with the strong outpouring of support for the
PAWS Act,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester).“The co-sponsors of the PAWS Act have proven
that animal welfare transcends parties and houses of the Legislature.It’s heartening to know that so many people
are willing to take a stand against those who would commit such heinous acts
against a defenseless animal, and I look forward to working with my colleagues
on both sides of the aisle to get this legislation passed and on the Governor’s
desk before the end of the session.”

Highlights of the PAWS Act include:

the establishment of an anonymous animal abuse tip hotline;

the expansion of the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund to
include the rehabilitation and care of abused animals, and the addition of a
special state police officer from an animal humane organization and a member of
local law enforcement on the board that administers the fund;

fines of up to $1,000 for any veterinarian who knowingly and willfully
fails to report a suspected act of cruelty to an animal;

expanded penalties for cruelty to animals, or maliciously killing,
maiming, disfiguring, or exposing them to poison, which would increase from the
current $2,500 penalty to a fine of between $2,500 and $10,000, in addition to
imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or imprisonment in
the house of correction for not more than 2 ½ years;

increased penalties for a second or subsequent offense, ranging from
5-10 years state imprisonment and a fine of between $5,000 and $20,000;

added discretion for the courts to expand these penalties for up to 5
additional years imprisonment and an additional $10,000 fine based on certain
aggravating factors, including but not limited to: the number of animals
involved; the degree of premeditation or planning; whether the abuse occurred
in the presence of a child; whether the abuse occurred as a result of acts
undertaken for financial benefit (i.e., dogfighting); and whether the abuse was
systematic or isolated;

provisions allowing district attorneys to file a petition asking the
courts to order a defendant to post a security or bond for the care of animals
that have been impounded as a result of abuse or cruelty;

enhanced penalties for a hit and run conviction involving a cat or dog
when the driver fails to notify the animal’s owner or the local police
department, which currently carries a $50 fine but would increase to a fine of
up to $2,000, up to 60 days in a house of corrections, or both a fine and
imprisonment;

the creation of a statewide registry of individuals convicted of animal
abuse crimes, which all animal shelters, pet stores and animal breeders would
be required to check prior to offering, selling, delivering, or giving an
animal to any individual; and

the establishment of a 9-member commission to review the state’s animal
cruelty laws, many of which date back to the late 19th and early 20th
centuries.

The PAWS Act will now be referred to a joint legislative committee,
which will schedule a public hearing on the bill for a future date.

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6 Manuel F. Lewis St.Gloucester, MA 01930

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